Other Names:

Broad-leaf Plantain, Greater Plantain, Common Plantain

Benefits

Antiinflammatory

Antioxidant

Antiviral

Anticarcinoma

Antileukemia

Antihemorrhagic

Antiprotozoa

Anticoccidial

Plantain

Plantago spp

Plantain (Plantago spp) are a genus of perennial flowering plants, many of which are considered to be common weeds in many areas. Plantains belong to the Plantaginaceae family and is native to eastern Asia.

Plantain has traditionally been used as a medicinal herb for treatment of many diseases, including liver disease, urinary tract inflammation, digestive aid, upper respiratory support, and topically as a poultice for minor cuts, bruises, site-specific contact dermatitis, and stings.

Active chemical componentsPlantago asiatica seeds contain several bioactive chemicals, including high levels of phenylethanoid glycosides (specifically acteoside and plantamajoside), phenolics, and various polysaccharides.

Beneficial nutrients
Plantain leaves are edible and contain high amounts of vitamins A and C and is also a rich source of calcium.

Anticoccidial properties
Plantain has showed promise as an effective means of controlling invasion by Eimeria tenella, the organism responsible for causing coccidiosis in chickens. Recent research conducted by Hong S et al., 2016 revealed that treating 3-day old chickens with 0.1% plantain extract one week prior to exposure to infection with E. tenella had remarkable anticoccidial effects. The positive effects of plantain were assessed by conducting fecal cultures to confirm the number of fecal oocysts shedding, and body weight gain of the birds.

Immunity enhancement
Research conducted on mice found that plantain seeds helped to enhance the immune function of immunosuppressant mice.